Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate from a public high school in Pennsylvania, your child must meet specific requirements established by the Local Education Agency (district, charter school, or career and technical center) in which s/he is enrolled. These local requirements include graduation requirements mandated by the Commonwealth to guarantee that a Pennsylvania diploma reflects the knowledge and skills that our graduating students need to be successful in college and the workplace in an increasingly complex and challenging economy. Through Act 158 of 2018 and Act 6 of 2017, students graduating in 2023 or later will additionally need to meet one of five pathways for high school graduation: Keystone Proficiency; Keystone Composite; Career and Technical Education (CTE) Concentrator; Alternative Assessment; Evidence-Based. Graduation from Hempfield Area High School requires satisfactory completion of a cumulative minimum of 23 credits in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. The specific distribution of these credits must include:
ENGLISH 4 CREDITS (SR YEAR RESEARCH PAPER REQUIRED)
SOCIAL STUDIES 3 CREDITS
MATH 3 CREDITS
SCIENCE 3 CREDITS
*SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE OR MATH 1 CREDIT EXTRA
HEALTH ½ CREDIT
FINANCIAL LITERACY ½ CREDIT
PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1 CREDIT (1/4 CREDIT EACH YEAR)
**ELECTIVES 7 CREDITS (2 MUST BE IN ARTS & HUMANITIES)
*CWCTC STUDENTS MAY HAVE THEIR EXTRA 1 CREDIT MET BY THEIR CWCTC PROGRAM UNDER THE **ELECTIVES CATEGORY.
** Arts courses include: Arts and crafts, music, media, and courses in technology education, and family and consumer sciences. Humanities courses include: World and classical languages, elective courses in English, and elective courses in social studies.